Hello friends!

I’m fundraising to help cure melanoma.

On a sunny Thursday in March 2015, my dad woke up with a headache. He took some Panadol then spent the day gardening. But the headache returned and by dinnertime he was feeling dizzy. He asked my mum to take him to the hospital. Less than 48 hours later he passed away, surrounded by his family.

The cause: a melanoma he had been treated for five years earlier. It started out as an ugly mole on the back of his leg which my mum and I bugged him to have checked. By the time he got around to it, the melanoma had spread to his lymph nodes. After surgery to remove the affected lymph nodes followed by a month of radiotherapy, he was in remission. But the sinister nature of melanoma is that it can get into the bloodstream and travel anywhere in the body. And in my dad, it made its way to his brain.

As Father’s Day approaches, I find myself wanting to do something. It’s also nearing summertime when Australians get out and enjoy the sun. To raise awareness of the danger we all face in a country bathed in sunlight, I’ve decided to honour my dad by raising money for the Melanoma Institute Australia. I want you to sponsor me to shave my head. I will do so at my nephew’s birthday party in September, surrounded by the family my beloved father left behind.

Did you know that Melanoma kills more young Australians (20-34 year olds) than any other single cancer?

Melanoma Institute Australia is a non-profit organisation hugely reliant upon community funding and support. Without individual donors they would not be able to continue the groundbreaking research, high standard of treatment and life-saving education that they offer.

Any donation that you can make to my fundraising page is hugely appreciated.

Click Donate Now to make a secure online donation.

Thanks so much for your support!